Is it over?
Wole
stood at the door for a moment. He contemplated whether to push the door bell
or walk away.
He
placed his hand on the doorbell but stopped.
He
put his face in his hands and turned away from the door. He was not sure what
to expect.
After
pondering over what to expect for a moment, he walked over to the doorbell and
pushed the small white button.
A
voice came from inside. “Who is it?”
“It’s
me…”
“You
who?”
Wole
swallowed, “It’s me Wole…”
There
was murmuring going on inside and then the voice said again, “What do you
want?”
“Please,
I would love to see Fatima.”
There
was silence for a moment.
“She
said she doesn’t want to see you” The voice from inside said.
“Fatima,
I know you are in there. Please…” Wole called out. His voice was pleading.
“She’s
not interested in speaking with you.”
“Fatima
please… I beg you. I know you are mad at me and I’m the last person on earth
you want to talk to right now but please, can we talk. I’d really love to
explain…”
Then
the door opened. It opened suddenly, it made Wole jump.
Fatima
stood at the door. Her eyes were teary. She had been crying.
“Wole,
I don’t know what in the world you want to say or what excuse you have to
make…” her voice was shaky. It was obvious she was making an effort not to bust
into tears.
“Please
Fatima, hear me out…” He tried to cut in.
“Wole,
I had to fight my parents because of you. They did not approve our
relationship. My father said he won’t come for my wedding if I marry a
westerner. Everyone thought I was crazy because I choose you over many suitors
from my tribe. They told me westerners were not trustworthy. But I told them
you were different. I practically told them to go to hell because I loved
you…but see what I get…?” She was sobbing now.
Wole
could not say a word.
“You
know what Wole, please just go away.”
Aminat came out from behind her sister. She was angry. Her tone was
unsympathetic. She was the voice speaking earlier.
Wole
just stood dumbfounded.
“Men
like you should be jailed and the key thrown into the ocean. Honestly, you do
not know what you have done to her. We have fought on many occasions because of
you. Imagine if she were your own sister and some guy treated her the way you
have done? Would you like it? Huh? Please just leave and never come here again.
Whatever you have to say is irrelevant. Please just go…”
Fatima
walked past her sister back into the apartment.
Wole
found his voice, “Aminat, you did not let me speak. You have not even heard my
side of the story…”
“Listen
to yourself. So you have a side of the story? Really? You want to explain what
exactly? How…”
Wole
ignored her. He walked past her into the apartment. He walked towards Fatima.
She
was sitting in the living room. Wole walked up to her and knelt down with one
knee.
“Fatima,
I am sorry. I know there is nothing that I can say that will change anything.
But Fatima… ”
Fatima
stood up and wanted to walk away. Wole grabbed her hand. She yanked her hand
off.
“Wole,
respect yourself and leave. Keep the little respect you have and leave my
house. Just leave…” her voice was
more controlled now.
Aminat
came in behind her.
“You
know what’s interesting? I went to see that Bolaji girl…” Aminat said.
Wole
felt his heart sink. His face fell. Aminat noticed. Fatima too.
“Yes.
I went to see her and asked her about you. She told me everything I needed to
know. And trust me, I told her everything she also needed to know…”
“Aminat
that’s ok. You have said enough.” Fatimat spoke to her sister.
Wole
just stood at the same spot. His eyes were fixed on Aminat.
“Wole
leave now…” Fatima was at the door now. She had it opened.
He
walked out without saying a word.
* * *
“You
are not getting any younger…”
“Mummy,
do you want me to just go and marry any man I see? I told you I’m seeing
someone now…” Bimpe said.
She
had gone to spend the weekend with her mother.
She
was helping her to prepare dinner in the kitchen.
“I’m
just concerned.”
“I
know.”
“You
know if you have your children early, you can spend the rest of your life with
your husband in peace without the burden of raising a child in old age. Also,
I’m growing old oooo. I want to see my grandchildren.”
“Mummy,
God will keep you alive and healthy. You will see your grandchildren and even
your great grandchildren.”
“Amen.
I just don’t want you taking too long to settle down.”
“I
won’t take too long.”
“So
tell me, what does the guy you are dating do?”
“He
works with MTN.”
“What’s
his name and where is he from?”
“His
name is Jide Ilori and he is from Osun state.”
“Osun
state is ok.”
“Mummy,
you and all this your tribalistic opinion. We are in the 21st
century and things have changed…”
Her
mother ignored her. She opened the pot where she was boiling meat and added
spice to it.
“My
daughter, whether you like it or not, some tribes are not worth getting
involved with and that’s the truth. Yes we are in the 21st century
but some people have not changed. Anyway, so hope this one is serious?”
“Mummy
that’s why I’m not in a hurry. I have learnt my lesson.”
“I
understand. So do you think he is ready to marry you…?”
“Mummy…”
Her
mother shrugged.
“I’m
doing my duty as a mother.”
“I
know mum.”
“Just
make sure he is a serious guy.”
“Don’t
worry about that. That one is for sure.”
“Ok
ooo. Just hurry up. I need to carry my gele.”
“You
will mum.”
Bimpe
poured the cleaned vegetable in a pot to steam it. Her mother was stirring the
meat.
“So
tell me, what kind of guy is he?”
“He
is decent. Looks like he was properly brought up. He is a good Christian and very
hardworking.”
Her
mother was looking at her now. She was studying her.
“Do
you love him?”
“Mum,
I can’t say I love him yet. We are barely two months in this relationship. I
know you will ask why I’m just telling you now.”
Her
mother nodded.
“I
wanted to be sure before I told you.”
“Well…
that’s good.”
“But
I think we are making head way.”
“Just
make sure you are very careful.”
“Mummy,
is it me you are telling…?”
“Ok,
may God direct you.”
“Amen.”
They
started to dish the dinner.
* * *
“But
how did it happen?” Kojo asked.
Patrick
took a long sigh.
“KJ,
honestly I don’t know…”
“This
is not good for your marriage at all.”
“My
wife said she’s going to leave me…” Patrick looked away. A deep regret flooded
his expression.
“What
did she say?”
“She
said a lot KJ. She said a whole lot…”
“But
how come? Who are these so called ‘fidelity Watchers’ or what is it they call
themselves?”
“I
had some of my men check them out. It is a highly cagy organization. I was told
you need an insider to get to them. Anyway, somehow my men were able to get me
info about them. It’s a really covert organization. They are very organized.
There mode of operation is clandestine to say the least…”
“Really?”
“Yeah.
And interestingly, the brain behind the whole operation is a woman.”
Kojo
raised his eyebrow.
“Seems
like some really angry woman…”
“They
actually have units in all states of the country and wealthy folks pay highly
for their services.”
“Interesting.”
Kojo nodded.
“I
heard they were going to expose two senators last week. They had all
incriminating evidences against them. I mean, these guys are good. You need to
see the pictures of me they took. When I saw it, my jaw dropped.”
“Do
you know the senators?”
“Yeah.
Senator Amadi Rufus and Senator Nani Bello.”
“You
must be kidding me…” Kojo put his glass of whiskey down.
“I’m
serious…”
“But
are these guys working within the ambit of the law?”
“You
tell me.”
“Sentiments
aside, these covert operation is non-constitutional and against the laws of
human rights.”
“Kojo,
you can go and argue your case in the court of law. But right now, my marriage
is in big trouble…”
Kojo
said nothing for a moment.
Then
he said, “i really don’t know what to say…”
Patrick
looked at his friend. He handed him his phone. “That’s one of the pictures. My
wife sent that picture to me while I was out of the country…”
Kojo
took the phone and looked at the picture.
There
was the picture of a lady in yellow bikini sitting on top of Patrick’s laps.
She was smiling. It was Jennifer.
Seemed
like that old familiar spider crawled up Kojo’s back. He looked at the picture
again. Her smile was all too familiar.
He
returned the phone.
“Woow.”
That’s some clean shot.
“Tell
me about it.”
“Was
that taken in Lagos?”
“No.
Now that’s the problem. I made sure my dealing were not anywhere near Lagos. It
was too risky. That was in Bayelsa. That tells you how effective this covert
organization operates.”
“Interesting.”
“When
I saw that picture, I thought my heart would skip. I did not pick her call or
call her two days after. I was too shocked. What kind of excuse can you give?”
“It
could have been computer imaging or what do they call that thing..?”
“Photoshop
you meant?”
“Yeah,
Photoshop.”
“KJ,
there were too many pictures to prove that stretch wrong. Also, they had voice
calls…”
“What?!
They eavesdrop calls too?”
“Apparently.”
“No,
no, no. that’s blatant invasion of privacy.”
“If
you were wearing my shoes, would you say that with confidence?”
“Of
course…”
“I
don’t think so. If Tadeke finds out you are cheating on her, trust me, it will
crush you… You think you are a man until you are faced with the same thing you
have tried so hard to conceal and it falls foolproof into the hands of the very
person you are hiding it from.”
Kojo
swallowed.
The
spider seemed to be playing somewhere inside his stomach now. The feeling was
upsetting.
“I
thought I could talk through this with my wife, but when I saw her face to
face, it broke my heart.”
“It
will.”
“And
that girl on that picture… she is mad. She called me two days ago telling me
she was pregnant and wants to keep the baby. I entertained the thought of
killing her. Seriously. ” Patrick clenched his jaw.
Pregnant? She is
pregnant for both of us? That girl is just a liar. Kojo thought.
“Kill
her? No Patrick, don’t engage such thoughts.”
“With
all I have already, she’s telling me such stupid and foolish things. She better
not show up anywhere around me. I would be tempted greatly and I have a strong
feeling I might fail that temptation.”
“Don’t
let her get to you. Many of these girls always come up with such lies to get
your attention…”
“And
pregnancy is her best bet. She must be stupid!”
“She
might threaten to tell your wife about it…”
Patrick
raised his left eyebrow.
“Sounds
like you know them very well…”
“Let’s
just say, I have had my fair share.”
“Hmmmm. Really?”
“Yeah.”
“KJ,
you mean you…”
“No
not exactly. I just got carried away at some point. But its all in the past
now.”
“Lucky
you. You did not get cut.”
“I
don’t know how to respond to that statement. Honestly. Is that good or bad?”
“From
my point of view, that’s good.”
“I
don’t know about that…”
****************************************
CHAPTER 12 Coming Soon
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